BST (Todd Bannard) Two Foot Grade Smooth Oval Shank Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

To call Canada’s Todd Bannard, the artisan behind Briar, Sweat and Tears (BST) pipes, a “cult favorite” would be a profound understatement. Like his fellow countrymen Michael Parks and Julius Vesz, Bannard’s work has demonstrated that, though Canada may have far fewer pipe-makers than its neighbors in the US, Canadian handmades truly are a matter of quality over quantity. Similarly to Parks especially, BST pipes are very difficult to get hold of, as they are snapped up as soon as—and, indeed, often long before—they are available for purchase.

Todd Bannard’s fondness for the classics of Anglo-French design is well documented, and we’ve been lucky enough to have a few of his classical, or perhaps neoclassical, renditions come through the estates pipeline recently. In the case of this one, it’s a slightly less common—though no less classic—shape in that vein. While oval shanks are most typically associated with Canadian, lumberman, and Zulu shapes, oval shank Dublins and billiards have maintained a significant presence among the flagbearers of traditional pipes, whether it’s Peterson and their early 900 series, Dunhill and shapes like the 44 and 104, or indeed the “long flat” motifs of family era Barlings. This one, at least to my mind, strikes as closest to the old Dunhill 44, though the grain, it must be said, is superior to just about all of the Dunhill renditions I’ve seen. I would imagine that’s why this BST received a “Two Foot” grade—a system occasionally used by Bannard for his most excellent pipes, which runs from one to three.

This pipe is completely unsmoked and comes with its original sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.78″ / 45.21mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 42g